The Link Between Cannabis Use and Increased Risk of Serious Illness in COVID-19 Patients
As the deadly disease known as COVID-19 began spreading in late 2019, scientists were quick to identify key risk factors that made individuals more vulnerable to severe illness and death. Factors such as age, smoking history, high BMI, and underlying health conditions like diabetes were all associated with worse outcomes for those infected with the virus. However, one risk factor that has remained elusive and controversial is cannabis use. Over the years, evidence has emerged suggesting both protective and harmful effects of cannabis on COVID-19 patients.
A recent study conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis sheds new light on this issue, revealing a concerning link between cannabis use and an increased risk of serious illness in COVID-19 patients.
The Study
The study, published in the prestigious journal JAMA Network Open, analyzed the health records of 72,501 individuals who were diagnosed with COVID-19 at health centers in a major Midwestern healthcare system over the first two years of the pandemic. The researchers discovered that individuals who reported using cannabis in any form within the year before contracting COVID-19 were significantly more likely to require hospitalization and intensive care compared to non-cannabis users. This elevated risk of severe illness was comparable to that of tobacco smokers.
Dr. Li-Shiun Chen, the senior author of the study and a professor of psychiatry, emphasized the importance of these findings, stating, “There’s a misconception among the public that cannabis is safe to use and may even have health benefits. However, our study shows that cannabis use is not harmless in the context of COVID-19. People who reported using cannabis, regardless of frequency, were more likely to need hospitalization and intensive care.”
Key Findings
The study revealed that COVID-19 patients who reported cannabis use in the past year were 80% more likely to require hospitalization and 27% more likely to be admitted to the ICU compared to non-cannabis users. These results stood out even after adjusting for factors such as tobacco smoking, vaccination status, underlying health conditions, and demographic factors. Interestingly, unlike tobacco smokers who had a higher risk of death from COVID-19, cannabis users did not show a similar increased risk of mortality.
Implications and Future Research
These findings challenge previous studies suggesting that cannabis may have beneficial effects in fighting viral diseases like COVID-19. Dr. Chen highlighted the unique strength of their study, which was based on real-world health data collected over an extended period, confirming the well-established risks associated with smoking. The researchers speculated that inhaling marijuana smoke could damage lung tissue, making individuals more susceptible to infection, similar to the effects of tobacco smoke. It is also possible that cannabis’s immune-suppressing properties could hinder the body’s ability to combat viral infections, regardless of the consumption method.
However, the study was not able to determine the exact mechanisms underlying the increased risk associated with cannabis use in COVID-19 patients. Further research is needed to explore how different forms of cannabis consumption, such as smoking versus edibles, impact disease severity. Dr. Nicholas Griffith, the first author of the study and a medical resident at Washington University, expressed the need for more research in this area, stating, “I hope this study paves the way for further investigations into the health effects of cannabis.”
Conclusion
As the world continues to grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to understand how different factors, including cannabis use, can influence disease outcomes. The study from Washington University provides valuable insights into the potential risks associated with cannabis use in COVID-19 patients, emphasizing the need for more research in this area. By shedding light on the complex relationship between cannabis and COVID-19, this study opens up new avenues for understanding and addressing the health effects of cannabis use during a global health crisis.
